anotherone

Web of Darkness

A/N: Hey! No one reviewed! Only hedwig, and illusion, and I thank them a lot....Please review if you read, and please read. Thanx.

Disclaimer: See Part One.

Part Two: Quidditch and Parties

Harry blinked rapidly against the glaring sun while searching rather unenthusiastically for any glimmer of the Golden Snitch. The encouraging shouts and cheers that the crowd below offered did little to raise his sunken hope.

He barely even noticed when Malfoy took a swipe at his head, flying away with a handful of jet black hair clutched in his fist. His only jolt back to reality was when the announcer, Shiara Jordan (Lee Jordan's younger sister) proclaimed another goal for Slytherin amid a string of swear words.

"That's 60-10 to Slytherin, folks! What has Harry Potter been doing up there? We need a save! Potter's going to have to use his skills and track down that Snitch, or else Gryffindor will be stomped on by Slytherin!" Shiara screamed into the microphone, causing many a student to wince.

Feeling a bit guilty about letting down his team, Harry spurred into action, zooming about the field while keeping a sharp eye out for any trace of a tiny, walnut-sized ball. Malfoy closely marked Harry's movements, trying in vain to keep up with his fast-flying Firebolt.

"If you didn't have that stinkin' broom of yours," Malfoy growled between clenched teeth as he tried to swerve in front of Harry.

"You'd still be left in my dust," Harry snarled back, feeling a red flush rise to his cheeks. Stay calm, focused...Harry repeated over and over to himself, while trying to keep himself from grabbing Malfoy's silvery-blonde head and turning it over his broom. Malfoy wants me to get annoyed and lose concentration...stay calm, focused...

Several things happened. First, Harry spotted the Snitch perched atop Alicia Spinnet's head. Unfortunately, Malfoy spotted it a split second later. Both stared at each other and plunged toward her head. Slytherin Team Captain, Ryan Jesling, barreled straight into Keeper Seamus Finnigan's unguarded back. Seamus, in turn, went right through one of the goal posts and across the field, propelled by one of the Slytherin Beaters, who trailed him and gave him pushes every time he slowed. Eventually, Seamus toppled straight into Alicia Spinnet, who dropped the Quaffle. Harry, just about to reach the Snitch, skidded to a quick halt to see if Alicia was hurt or injured. Malfoy, not quite possessing Harry's flying ability, crashed into Harry and sent him hurtling into the Snitch, which was still hovering in the air, rather undecided. The Slytherin Beater who was pushing Seamus along was, unluckily, on the other side. The Snitch ended up sandwiched between both Harry and the Beater's bodies.

A sick, crunching noise told Harry something had broken, though he was pretty sure it wasn't any of his bones.

He studied the Slytherin's face, thinking that maybe he was hurt by the gruesome look of anger crossing it. He was mistaken, however—as the two flew away from each other, Harry caught sight of a golden flash of light floating feather-like towards the ground.

Without thinking, he speeded downward and caught the thing in his hands before settling firmly on the hard ground. Madame Hooch was already there, blowing her whistle and indicating that all the players should come down.

"Please hand that over to me, Mr. Potter," Madam Hooch said strictly, without bothering for Harry's consent. The two Quidditch teams formed a silent circle around the referee, squinting for a closer look at the deflated looking object.

With a sudden gasp, Harry realized it was the Snitch, squashed by him and the Slytherin.

"That doesn't count!" Malfoy hollered from over Harry's shoulder. "He broke it before catching it!"

"Oh, put a screw in it!" Harry screamed right back at Malfoy.

"Both of you. Be quiet. Nothing in the rulebook does it say that a deflated Snitch may not be caught—as long as it still functions properly—I say a Gryffindor triumph," Madame Hooch declared after inspecting the Snitch carefully. She lifted her wand and shot a shower of sparks in the air, in Gryffindor colors.

Seeing it, the Gryffindor side of the crowd, which had been waiting patiently for the predicament, went wild, surging forward in a mass of bodies as they engulfed Harry and his teammates. The Slytherin team was hastily shoved aside.

"Great catch, Harry! Marvelous!" Harry heard Ron shout over the pandemonium. Grinning from ear to ear, Harry worked his way through the crowd and began walking back to the castle with Ron, broomstick over his shoulder.

"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked suddenly.

"Oh, doing the usual 'I have to go to the library' thing. After you told her about what Dumbledore had said, she went flying to the library like mad," Ron informed his friend, freckly face glowing with triumph. "Maybe she's found something interesting. After all, it's Hermione."

**********

And, as Ron predicted, the moment they entered the common room for an after-game party, Hermione dashed down the girls' dormitories, a thick book clutched in her hands.

Barely able to contain her excitement, she ushered the two boys into seats and slapped the book on the table in front of them. "I've managed to find out more information on the Black Orb," she said matter-of-factly. "Though not much. We might have to do some more research under Harry's—" here, she lowered her voice. "Invisibility Cloak."

Shrugging and trying to feign off boredom, Harry slouched over in his seat to clearly read the short page.

Black Orb

It is said to have been first created by Salazar Slytherin himself, when he first developed his Dark creatures. When the life source that he had injected in them ran out with time, he found a new way to insure that they kept moving. The Black Orb somehow contains enough Dark material to fuel all the creatures, and is somehow, also unknown, connected to Voldemort in an important link. Many have tried to discover this device, but have failed, as it is protected by many spells, enchantments, and monsters. Furthermore, it is located, as legend goes, in the heart of a large labyrinth. Guarding the Orb is the final obstacle, a monster of great horrors, which no one knows.

"Oh, lovely. So Dumbledore's setting out to destroy this..." Harry said, feeling indeed that the situation was pretty much hopeless.

"But Dumbledore's the best wizard this century," Ron protested, trying to cheer Harry up. "Besides, he told you not to worry. So don't. Let's join the party...I hear Shiara Jordan got hold of a few tankards of Butterbeer, including that new flavor, Strawberry Butterbeer."

Glaring disapprovingly as the two boys went off to join the party, Hermione kept her seat at the table, skimming over the words again.

Harry's mind was rid of dark thoughts momentarily as Neville Longbottom spoke. "Hey, guys, I heard that Snape made a new rule—"

Harry couldn't quite hear Neville's small voice, but the gathering in the common room went ballistic with moans, groans, and the general pounding of fists on the tables.

Ron, next to Harry, moaned loudly, as if injured. "I can't believe he would do that!" he said, turning to Harry.

"I didn't hear—what new rule?" Harry asked.

Looking disbelieving, Ron opened his mouth. "It's sure to spoil your little Quidditch playing, Harry..."

A/N: If you review, you will feel a warm, slippery feeling in your stomach, much like the sensation of drinking a bottle of butterbeer! :-)